Cameron Menzies makes winning return at the Poland Darts Masters as Ratajski delivers on home soil

Cameron Menzies delivered a scoring clinic to defeat Ritchie Edhouse in the opening round of the Poland Darts Masters on Friday, as Krzysztof Ratajski delighted his home crowd in Kraków.

Menzies, making his first big stage appearance since injuring his throwing hand during a fit of rage at the World Darts Championship in December, fired in nine 180s en route to a 6-4 win over former European Champion Edhouse.

The PDC European Tour’s first visit to Poland saw Ratajski take centre stage on Day One at the EXPO, courtesy of a clinical 6-3 victory over former Grand Slam semi-finalist Mickey Mansell.

Ratajski – roared on by a partisan home crowd – defied an average of almost 99 from Mansell to progress, producing a typically efficient display to set up a blockbuster clash with Humphries.

“This was one of the most valuable wins in my career, for sure,” said Ratajski, a World Championship quarter-finalist last month.

“I was very nervous tonight. The expectation was high, but I played my game and I’m really happy I won for this great crowd.

“Of course I want to win [against Humphries]. This will be something special, but I will prepare like I always do for every game.”

Andrew Gilding produced the performance of the day in Kraków, reeling off six consecutive legs from 3-0 adrift to stun Swedish number one Jeffrey de Graaf with a 106.5 average.

Gilding will now take on Dutch number one Gian van Veen in round two, while William O’Connor also accounted for Swedish opposition, defeating Andreas Harrysson in a high-quality affair.

Friday’s opening day also featured a terrific win for Connor Scutt, who withstood a stirring mid-game fightback from Damon Heta to register his second victory on the European Tour stage.

Despite trailing 4-0, Heta followed up 11 and 12-dart breaks with a 167 checkout to level at four apiece, only for Scutt to respond with a 106 kill alongside a 12-darter to wrap up proceedings.

Wessel Nijman will go head-to-head with Gary Anderson in one of Saturday’s stand-out ties, after the Dutchman maintained his bright start to 2026 with a 6-3 victory against Thomas Lovely.

However, Dirk van Duijvenbode’s late flurry against Adam Gawlas came in vain, as the Czech youngster prevailed by the same scoreline to book a tie against current Premier League leader Jonny Clayton.

There was a continental flavour to Friday’s action, as Spanish star Cristo Reyes landed six 180s and pinned 60 per cent of his attempts at doubles to dump out Niko Springer on his European Tour return.

Belgian number one Mike De Decker was another high-profile name to advance, battling past European Tour debutant Marvin Kraft to create a fascinating encounter against world number one Luke Littler on Saturday evening.

Croatia’s Boris Krcmar, meanwhile, averaged 102.4 to deny an impressive Ryan Joyce and move through to a clash with German number one Martin Schindler.

Darryl Pilgrim claimed the scalp of a struggling Dave Chisnall to set up a showdown against Nathan Aspinall, while Luke Woodhouse ran out a convincing 6-2 winner against European Tour debutant Carl Sneyd.

Despite Ratajski’s victory, the remaining four Polish stars all suffered opening round exits, as Joe Cullen, Daryl Gurney, Jermaine Wattimena and Niels Zonneveld completed the second round line-up.

Cullen will renew his rivalry with former World Champion Michael Smith after overcoming Krzysztof Kciuk with a 99 average and four 180s, while Gurney breezed to an emphatic 6-1 win over host nation qualifier Dawid Robak.

Dutch duo Wattimena and Zonneveld also prevailed on a bumper day in Kraków, comfortably defeating Euro Tour newcomers Miroslaw Grudziecki and Piotr Maciejczak respectively.

Poland Darts Open 2026 Day One Results

Friday February 20

First Round

Afternoon Session
Cameron Menzies 6-4 Ritchie Edhouse
William O’Connor 6-4 Andreas Harrysson
Ryan Joyce 3-6 Boris Krcmar
Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Carl Sneyd
Niels Zonneveld 6-2 Piotr Maciejczak
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Jeffrey De Graaf
Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 Miroslaw Grudziecki
Dave Chisnall 4-6 Darryl Pilgrim

Evening Session
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Thomas Lovely
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Dawid Robak
Damon Heta 4-6 Connor Scutt
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Mickey Mansell
Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-6 Adam Gawlas
Niko Springer 3-6 Cristo Reyes
Joe Cullen 6-2 Krzysztof Kciuk
Mike De Decker 6-4 Marvin Kraft